Black or White
"Black or White" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
from the album Dangerous | ||||
Released | November 11, 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1989–1990[1] | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | Pop, rock | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music videos | ||||
"Black or White" (short version) on YouTube | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
"Black or White" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on November 11, 1991, as the first single from his eighth studio album, Dangerous (1991). Jackson wrote, composed, and produced it with Bill Bottrell. Epic Records described it as "a rock 'n' roll dance song about racial harmony".
"Black or White" reached number-one on the US
The
"Black or White" was honored with the first-ever Billboard No. 1 World Single award.[2] The music video of the song appears on the video albums Dangerous: The Short Films (long version), Video Greatest Hits – HIStory (long version, without graffiti on VHS version but with graffiti on DVD version), Number Ones (short version), and Michael Jackson's Vision (long version without graffiti). In 2003, Q magazine ranked "Black or White" at number 84 on their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[3]
Songwriting and recording
"Black or White" was written and recorded over 18 months starting in early 1989.
After two days of work, the song had vocals, drum sounds and electric guitar. Bottrell added an acoustic guitar part using a Gibson LG-2 built in the 1940s, a robust model with a big country sound reminiscent of Gene Vincent's classic rockabilly style. Jackson became busy working on other projects, and "Black or White" languished for a few months. The song was picked up again when Bottrell's part of the album project moved to Record One in Sherman Oaks. Bottrell and Jackson felt that the song had two big gaps in the middle, and they determined to fill them. Jackson wanted a heavy metal guitar to fill one of the gaps, so he sang the part he wanted, including chord arpeggiations, to session player Tim Pierce who performed it on a Les Paul plugged into a Marshall stack. Michael Boddicker added the sound of a high-speed guitar by using a Roland sequencer, assisted by Kevin Gilbert. Bottrell blended two different bass sounds, primarily Bryan Loren playing a Moog keyboard bass, augmented by Terry Jackson playing an electric bass guitar. (Terry Jackson was unrelated to Michael Jackson. Terry was discovered by Thomas Dolby, and played bass in 1988 on Aliens Ate My Buick, co-produced by Bottrell.) Bottrell replaced some of the E-mu default rhythm samples with live drum samples taken from an Akai machine.[4]
For most of the recording process, Jackson left Bottrell alone to work on various ideas. Bottrell wanted a section of rapping to fill the remaining gap, and he suggested LL Cool J or Heavy D, but these proposals did not work out. Bottrell said he had been trying to get someone to write a rap verse for eight months when he was suddenly inspired to write it himself. He recorded Loren performing the rap, but Loren was not at ease in the role. Bottrell recorded it himself several times, editing one of these takes to use as a demonstration for Jackson. Upon hearing the take, Jackson wanted it for the final version. Bottrell pleaded again that they should get a "real rapper", but Jackson insisted on Bottrell's take.[4]
The final polishing of the song involved Bottrell filling a keyboard with various sampled electric guitar notes, and bringing his friend Jasun Martz to play it, taking advantage of Martz's fresh ears and rock sensibility. For the final mix, Bottrell was frustrated by the Solid State Logic (SSL) mixer at Larrabee Sound Studios, which sounded good on the heavy metal guitar, but made the classic guitars seem "too cold and clinical". He ended up using the Neve mixer at Record One to mix the majority of the song, and the SSL for the rap and heavy metal sections. Original tracks were recorded on two Studer 24-track 2-inch analog tape machines, and a compilation of these was laid down on a Mitsubishi ProDigi 32-track digital audio tape deck.[4]
Composition
The song has elements of
The song's main guitar riff, originally played by Bottrell, is often incorrectly attributed to Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Slash's guitar playing is actually heard in the skit that precedes the album version of the song,[11][12] and he did play the main riff during several live performances of the song (plus several other songs), including at Jackson's appearance during the 1991 MTV 10th Anniversary show. The two teamed up for an energized performance of “Black or White”, after which Slash destroyed his guitar by throwing it into the dashboard of a prop car on stage, complete with explosives and fireworks.[13]
Release
Promotion
"Black or White" was picked as the first single from the album Dangerous. An alternate version was first heard by Sony executives on a plane trip to Neverland, as the third track of the promotional CD acetate. It began to be promoted on radio stations the first week of November 1991 in New York and Los Angeles.[14][15] "Black or White" was officially released one week later, on November 5, 1991.[15]
Commercial reception
To prepare the audience for the special occasion of the televised premiere of the "Black or White" video, Epic records released the song (without the accompanying images) to radio stations just two days in advance. In a period of 24 hours, "Black or White", described by the record company as "a rock 'n' roll dance song about racial harmony", had been added to the playlists of 96 percent of 237 of the United States' Top 40 radio stations.[16]
"Black or White" entered the
Critical reception
Reviews of the song were generally favorable. In an retrospective review, Chris Lacy from Albumism stated that it "merges classic rock with soulful crooning in a call for racial unity."
Remixes
The
Music video
The accompanying
Along with Jackson, the video features
The video premiered simultaneously in 27 countries, with an audience of 500 million viewers, the most ever for a music video.
Synopsis
The video begins with a boy (Macaulay Culkin) dancing to rock music in his bedroom. His father (George Wendt) yells at him to stop. The boy retaliates by playing an electric guitar loudly enough to fire his father into space, after which he lands in Africa.[41]
Jackson performs "Black or White"
In the extended version of the music video, after the song, a black panther walks out of the studio into an urban street and transforms into Jackson, who dances furiously, similar to the 1990 LA Gear commercial. He destroys a glass beer bottle, a building window, and a parked car.[46] He tears off his shirt and screams with grand drama as the hotel neon sign falls. After his damage and rampage, he re-emerges as a panther. Finally, Bart Simpson from The Simpsons jams to the song while watching it on the TV. Homer yells at him to "Turn off that noise!" Bart replies, "Chill out, Homeboy." Then, Homer angrily turns the TV off. The static then cuts to a close-up of Jackson with the tagline "prejudice is ignorance".[46][47]
Controversy and censorship
Controversy was generated concerning the last four minutes of the original music video. A black panther walks out of the studio and then morphs into Jackson.[40] Then he walks outside to perform some of his most physically slick dance moves, in a similar way to "Billie Jean". This part contained sexually suggestive scenes when Jackson starts to grab his crotch,[41] and then zips his pants up. In the original version, Jackson is seen smashing windows,[41] destroying a car with his arm and a crowbar, destroying windows with a steering wheel and a trash can, and causing an inn (called the "Royal Arms Hotel") to explode.[40]
Jackson was sharply criticized for the final scene, especially by Entertainment Weekly which ran a featured article titled "Michael Jackson's Video Nightmare".[39] Jackson asked his fans for forgiveness, saying that the violent and suggestive behavior had been a dance-style interpretation of the animalistic instincts of a panther.[40] Jackson ordered the removal of the video's final scenes from subsequent broadcast. In 1993, Jackson released a digitally altered version of the final scenes, with the glass windows smashed now marred with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti: the car windows display offensive messages with racial epithets such as "Nigger Go Home" (styled as NI66eR 6O HOMe), "No More Wetbacks", "Hitler Lives", and a storefront door is spray-painted with "KKK Rules". These alterations gave a new and better reasoning to Jackson's destruction of property.[39]
Track listings
Side one
Side two
Side one
Side two
Side one
Side two
Side one
|
Side two
|
Cultural impact
In 1991, "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody of "Black or White" titled "Snack All Night", which was never released. Although Jackson was a long-time supporter of Yankovic's work and had approved past parodies, he told Yankovic that he was reluctant to approve a parody of "Black or White" because of the message of the song.[54] Yankovic believes that Jackson's rejection of the parody was ultimately for the best, because he was unsatisfied with the quality of the song and its scrapping left room on his next album for "Smells Like Nirvana", one of his biggest hits.[54] As with other rejected parodies, Yankovic has performed "Snack All Night" during his concerts.[55]
The music video, particularly the panther segment, have been referenced or parodied by television shows and artists, notably by Saturday Night Live and In Living Color. Comedian Chris Rock joked that he was angry because Jackson had smashed his car.[39] In 1991, English rock band Genesis parodied the "Black or White" video in the ending of their video for "I Can't Dance", in which member Phil Collins imitates Michael Jackson's "panther" fit in front of a stark white background.[56] In 2012, the television show Glee covered the song in the episode "Michael", it features primary voices from Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley and Naya Rivera, and backing vocals from the rest of the cast. Jenna Ushkowitz and Darren Criss are not featured in the song or the performance. This cover debuted and peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 42 at Billboard Digital Songs, and number 69 at Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart at the week of February 18, 2012.[57]
Personnel
- Michael Jackson – vocals, composition, lyrics, production
- Bill Bottrell – rap vocals and lyrics,[58] engineering, mixing, production, electric and acoustic guitars, drum programming, keyboard programming
- Brad Buxer – drum programming, keyboards
- Bryan Loren – Moog bass
- Terry Jackson – electric bass guitar
- Jasun Martz – keyboards
- Tim Pierce – electric guitar
- Michael Boddicker, Kevin Gilbert – speed sequencer
- Teddy Riley – drum programming (cowbell)[59]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[117] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[118] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[119] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
France ( SNEP)[120]
|
Silver | 125,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[121] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[122] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Japan (RIAJ)[123] Full-length ringtone |
Gold | 100,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[124] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[125] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[126] Physical |
Silver | 200,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[127] Digital |
Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[128] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ISBN 9780525566571.
- ^ a b Michael Jackson 1992 Lifetime Achievement Award, archived from the original on November 18, 2021, retrieved October 14, 2019
- ^ "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
- ^ a b c d Buskin, Richard (August 2004). "Classic Tracks: Michael Jackson 'Black Or White'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- Alfred PublishingCo. Inc. April 2, 2002. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ Sony Music (2001). "Michael Jackson Dangerous Review". Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 4, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
- ^ Jeans (1993). "Peligroso regreso". Michael Jackson: Un mito indescifrable (in Spanish). Revista Jeans. p. 7.
En "Black or white"... el resultado es una mezcla de hard rock, dance y rap
- ISBN 0-7552-0091-8. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- ISBN 0-671-89239-8. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Michael Jackson Thriller Review". Allmusic. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- ^ Dekel, Jonathan (March 11, 2010). "Slash Calls Michael Jackson Guitar Riff 'Gay' at Canadian Music Week Keynote". Spinner. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- YouTube
- ^ "Michael Jackson - Black or White MTV 10th Anniversary - November 27, 1991". YouTube.com. MJbr2 (channel). March 11, 2018.
- ^ Jackson, Michael (2000). Dangerous booklet. Epic records.
- ^ ISBN 0-8283-1957-X. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Black or White – Listen and discover music at". Last.fm. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0-7552-0091-8. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 0-8283-1957-X. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-0857122124. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- ^ "Michael Jackson's Catalogue Garners Major New Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. August 23, 2018.
- ^ Lacy, Chris (November 21, 2016). "Tribute: Celebrating 25 Years of Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous'". Albumism. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
- ^ [1] Archived May 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Flick, Larry (November 16, 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 81. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ Clark, Randy; DeVaney, Bryan (November 16, 1991). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- ^ Browne, David (November 29, 1991). "Dangerous Review | Music Reviews and News". EW.com. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- ^ Jones, Alan (November 16, 1991). "Mainstream: Singles - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Dangerous". People. December 23, 1991. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Light, Alan (January 9, 1992). "Michael Jackson Dangerous Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 22, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- The Windsor Star.
- ^ "Pazz & Jop, 1991". Robert Christgau. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ Flick, Larry (January 4, 1992). "Dance Trax: MCA Music's Song & Dance: Firm Showcases Writers" (PDF). Billboard. p. 19. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ Hung Medien. "Black or white (The Clivillés & Cole (C&C) remixes) in Australian Chart". Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-78840-057-2.
- ^ Garcia, Alex. "Michael Jackson "Black or white"". mvdbase. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ Willman, Chris (November 16, 1991). "Michael's Video Takes Beating; 4 Minutes Cut". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ Schilling, Vincent (June 27, 2014). "Remembering Michael Jackson and the Racial Mashup of 'Black or White'". Indian Country Today. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "• #multiracial "My Friend Michael Jackson"..." November 1, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Commando filming locations". IAMNOTASTALKER. August 21, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
Surplus City Jeep Parts" "The Wild Life" "Commando" "Black or White
- ^ ISBN 9781569762417.
- ^ a b c d e f g Phalen, Tom (November 16, 1991). "Jackson alters his new video". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Pareles, Jon (November 16, 1991). "Review/Rock, New Video Opens the Jackson Blitz". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ "Sri Lankan dancer Yamuna Sangarasivam danced with Michael Jackson". Sri Lanka Foundation. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9780822384892.
- ^ "See what prepared Tyra Banks for her new role as 'DWTS' host". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (November 16, 1991). "Review/Rock; New Video Opens the Jackson Blitz". The New York Times.
- ^ d', Jermaine. "'I'm Not Gonna Spend My Life Being a Colour': The interaction of racism between Michael Jackson and the mass-media through Michael Jackson's 'Black or White'".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Epic / 657598 7
- ^ Epic / 657598 6
- ^ Epic / 657731 6
- ^ Epic / 49 74099
- ^ Epic / 657598 2
- ^ Epic / 657731 2
- ^ a b Weingarten, Christopher R. (October 11, 2012). "'Weird Al' Yankovic Looks Back At 20 Years Of 'Smells Like Nirvana' | SPIN". SPIN. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- ^ ""Weird Al" Yankovic: Concert Set Lists". Weirdal.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- YouTube [dead link]
- ^ Gary Trust (February 10, 2012). "Weekly Chart Notes: Madonna, Michael Jackson, 'Godspell'". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^ Taete, Jamie Lee Curtis (May 5, 2015). "Meet the Mystery Man Who Rapped on Michael Jackson's 'Black or White'". Vice. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ^ Riley, Teddy (September 22, 2022). "Teddy Riley on Producing Michael Jackson's 'Remember the Time'". YouTube. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Black Or White" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Black Or White" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2030." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2037." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2026." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. December 21, 1991. p. 41. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Michael Jackson". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 113. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Les classement single.
- ^ "Black or White in Germany". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. January 18, 1992. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ a b "Black or white in Irish Chart". IRMA. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2013. Only results when searching "Black or white"
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 48. November 30, 2019. p. 22. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Michael Jackson" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ a b c "Michael Jackson – Black Or White" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". VG-lista.
- ^ "Discos populares en Latinoamérica". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). December 20, 1991. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. February 1, 1992. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ISBN 978-0755200917.
- ^ "Michael Jackson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Discos más populares en Mexico". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish): 56. May 24, 1992. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Dangerous awards on AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". Top Digital Download.
- ^ Canciones Top 50.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". Tracklisten.
- ^ "European Hot 100". Billboard. July 25, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ "Download French Single Top 50". France. lescharts. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Black Or White". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Hungarian Singles Chart Archives". MAHASZ. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
- Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ^ "ARIA End Of Year Singles 1991". Australian Recording Industry Association. 1992. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1991". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1991". Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. January 11, 1992. p. 20.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1992". austriancharts.at. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1992". Ultratop. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- GfK Entertainment(in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992". hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1992". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "ultratop.be - Ultratop Nineties500". www.ultratop.be. Archived from the original on February 11, 2018.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). "1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 140.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White". Music Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "French single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 9, 2021. Select MICHAEL JACKSON and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Michael Jackson; 'Black or White')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 23, 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Black or White" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 30, 2020. Select 2010年3月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White". Recorded Music NZ.
- ^ "Michael Jackson - Black or White". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – Black or White". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 19, 2022.